New 1937 Chevrolet AAC

I'm happy to announce release of a further Spanish Civil War AFV in 1:72^nd scale: 1937 Chevrolet AAC, an armored car developed and built by loyalist forces in Catalonia during the Spanish Civil War. Heavily inspired on Soviet BA-6s, some 60 to 90 Chevrolet AACs were built at Hispano-Suiza factory in Barcelona, using General Motors chassis as well as armour from Sagunt blast furnaces.

Its main differences to Soviet BA-6 were its turret, engine access doors, mudguard profile, wheels and (quite importantly) its Chevrolet engine, that was some 10 HP more powerful than that of their Soviet counterparts.

After the Ebro Battle, where Nationalists destroyed 17 Chevies and captured other 18, all the remaining Chevrolet AAC that were still in Catalonia were pulled back to the French border, where they were given to the French border forces. France used them shortly afterwards with low casualties, although some 20 of them were captured by the Germans - who in turn reused them in Operation Barbarossa up to the the Battle of Moscow. According to some sources, a few went in hands of the Spanish Blue Division and were used in Leningrad whereabouts.

1937 Chevrolet AAC, just ready!

Once back from a short vacation in the Pyrenees, I'm happy to share some preliminary views on what is going to be our next Spanish Civil War AFV release, both in 1:100^th and 1:72^nd scales - the ubiquitous 1937 Chevrolet armoured car!

As usual, these will be fast assembly model kits consisting of a main body for hull, and separate parts for wheels, headlights, turret and hull MG. Some of these pieces will be resin cast while others will be hard plastic or DLP 3D-printed.

As an aside note, this can be a really enjoyable model due to the number of adaptations and modifications suffered over their long service life - longer than one would expect from a start!

While still in SCW, some where fitted 45mm gun turrets cannibalized from T-26 tanks or BA-6 ACs. But then, once the Republic was defeated, a lot of Chevies fled to France; most were pressed into french service, either under their original liveries and weaponry, or with newly assigned camo schemes and armament. Later, after the fall of France, the germans took over all those Chevies still serviceable and pressed them into their own service, duely repainted in Panzergrau and dispatched to the Russian front, either with their existing weapons, or performing new roles such as troop carriers or turretless anti-aircraft platforms.

Plentiful of info and pictures at regard in Tanks Encyclopaedia. Enjoy!